SK Wayne wrenches

[Norton1981]

This is easily the best tool discussion forum out there....very informative. Anyhow a guy wants to sell me an old sk Wayne wrench set for 75 bucks..14 wrenches 3/8 to 1 1/4 inch. They are lightly used in very good shape with some having very light rust. Does this sound like a good deal? How do the old sk raised panels compare to the new sk? I have a set of new sk and believe they are top notch. I don't need the wreches but am becoming a bit of an sk junkie

 

[AceofSpad3s]

If you needed them then sure, but since you don't I would pass. I don't have any new sk wrenches (what is new to you?) but I do have some raised ones and they are okay. Nothing particularly special, about the same as or a little better than older craftsman raised panels.

 

[Norton1981]

I bought a new set about 6 months ago

 

[zcbauer89]

That's a decent price. Those old wrenches have done a lot of work around here and still get used. If you want em, buy em.

 

[Norton1981]

I've noticed many sk fans on here. Have they been been doing well since the ideal takeover? I want to see them grown and succeed

 

[defektes]

Ideal has improved some products like the bit sockets and the warranty process is as easy as ever.

I have a number of SK wayne wrenches mainly in the larger 1''+ sizes and I prefer the raised panels to the new smooth ones. That is a great deal and those wrenches will last a lifetime.

 

[Indexmill]

If you need a set of wrenches in those sizes, then $75 for older SK Wayne is a very good price for a set in very good condition.

I bought all of those exact wrenches one at a time every time I got some money when I was just starting to play with lawnmowers at age 10. Still have everyone of them and have used the hell out of them. Still like new.

Do it!

 

[bonneyman]

I agree. Older SK were solid tools. Those marked SK Wayne are no better, no worse. They are just a little more collectible (to some) because we can date them precisely.
I've been assembling a SK Wayne 3/8" drive socket set just because the Wayne's are a little harder to come by.
Great tools.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Since this is a want not a need, if it was me I can go $40.

 

[davethorik]

I have what appears to be a NOS sk wayne 1/4 drive set in the green metal box. It's missing the original green handle socket driver. However comparing the SK Wayne 40970 to a newer SK 40970, the wayne's forging is misshapen. It's kind of ugly. The thru hole isn't centered in the head and viewed from the side it slopes towards one side. Still works fine. The newer rat looks almost perfect.

 

[SMKS]

SK Wayne will be old enough that they aren't going to have off-corner engagement. Functionally, they're going to be inferior to a newer wrench for that reason.

They'll still be usable wrenches, but when it comes to busting frozen fasteners, there will be better options.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I have what appears to be a NOS sk wayne 1/4 drive set in the green metal box. It's missing the original green handle socket driver. However comparing the SK Wayne 40970 to a newer SK 40970, the wayne's forging is misshapen. It's kind of ugly. The thru hole isn't centered in the head and viewed from the side it slopes towards one side. Still works fine. The newer rat looks almost perfect.

Got any pics? You probably just got an ugly one, I got a wayne 42470 that is as close to perfect as one can get.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Since this is a want not a need, if it was me I can go $40.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[davethorik]

Got any pics? You probably just got an ugly one, I got a wayne 42470 that is as close to perfect as one can get.

Might take me a. Minute to find the pics I took of it but it's kinda hard to see. I actually didn't even notice til I held it up against the newer rat. The set is also missing the long extension but there is a Proto extension swapped in and a no name socket driver handle.

 

[sonvolt]

They are good tools for sure but technically outdated as others have mentioned $40-$50

 

[Norton1981]

Are the newer sk raised panels any better as far as that surface drive feature is concerned

 

[SMKS]

Are the newer sk raised panels any better as far as that surface drive feature is concerned

Yes. SK wrenches (the box end) and sockets made for a good number of years have off-corner engagement. Every brand calls it something different. SK calls is SureGrip.

Does SK still offer raised panel combo wrenches, or just fully polished wrenches? I can't remember, and I'm too lazy to look right now.

I have come across one or two SK RP wrenches that had a SureGrip box end, but the vast majority of SK RP wrenches I've found are old enough they don't have off-corner engagement in the box end.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I'm becoming quite the SK fan and have lots of old SK, some Wayne, and some newer SK now too. The $75 is a fair price if those are impeccible condition. If a little rusty or used a bit though, $50 would be a much better price. I have a set similiar in very good shape I think I got for about $45. SK is one of the few great American tool companies still left. I'd add Wright, Proto, Channellock, Klein (mostly US), Wilde to that pretty exclusive list, leaving out the pricey truck brands of course. - Paul

 

[HanShotFirst]

I consider the SK Wayne raised panel wrenches like a tougher US Craftsman. They're dated, so I wouldn't pay that much for them. I personally would look for much newer SK wrenches.

 

[hangfirew8]

Even as an SK fan, $75 for an SAE set seems a little high.